​It gets hotter every summer! It is always the perfect time to hit the beach, cool off in the mountains, or explore the provinces for local festivals. On the other hand, it’s also the time when the temperature can make people cower in the air-conditioned comforts of their homes or cars. A 2-minute walk to the bus station or a short queue for a cab can make you feel feverish and sweaty as if you just ran a marathon.The good news is--Hyundai cools your summer off with the “DEALights” promo with easy-to-own schemes for the Accent, Eon, Elantra, Sonata, Veloster, Tucson, Santa Fe and Grand Starex models.

Now, getting the car of your dreams won’t just make you feel smart and proud; it also allows you to save as much as P150,000 that is usable as cash discount; or subsidies to reduce down payment or monthly amortization. What’s more -- your purchase also gives

This delightful summer deal is made possible by Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles in the Philippines. Their partnership with banking giants provides financing for buyers through the following: BPI, Chinabank Savings, Eastwest Bank, Maybank, RCBC, and Security Bank.

The DEALights promo runs up to May 31, 2017 only. So hurry and rush to your nearest Hyundai dealership now!

​Following a strong Q1 sales performance, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) inaugurates its first local assembly plant, which means Hyundai vehicles will now be manufactured in the country. Dubbed as the Hyundai Assembly Center (HAC), HARI’s newest milestone is located at Laguna Technopark in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

According to HARI, the plant currently holds the production of the brand's subcompact hatchback Eon and the H350 light commercial van. This is Hyundai's response to its increase in its business portfolio – a growing demand for passenger and commercial vehicles, which was also reflected on their Q1 sales report.

This is a positive news for local buyers as HAC is said to provide better access to Hyundai units preferred by consumers, better yet, will generate more job opportunities to Filipinos.

Aside from generating additional jobs, manufacturers can directly react to varying vehicle demand. This allows them to assemble specific units that are well-received by the consumers.

Domestically, there are already a number of manufacturers who are producing some of their vehicles, such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, FOTON, and Isuzu. In 2015, Executive Order No. 182 or the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program was signed to enhance existing Motor Vehicle Development programs. Toyota and Mitsubishi are part of this scheme, whereas Hyundai has yet to announce its stand.

Try to remember five or seven years ago when the Hyundai Tucson was the one to get when you wanted a stylish, compact SUV without paying too much. You could get a base variant for just a little over P1 million and it was pretty good with a peppy drivetrain, decent space, and stylish lines.

Today, a Tucson rings the bell at P1,113,000 for a 2.0-liter with a manual (if you can even find a unit…), but the one to really pine for is this one, which stickers for P1,578,000. Hyundai has dropped the AWD variant from the line, realizing that nobody ever really drives a Tucson off-road anyway to warrant the use of four-wheel drive and the associated costs.

While the new model’s silhouette resembles the previous one, changes are quite substantial and easily appreciated. It looks chunkier, more substantial from outside, almost as if the designers were channeling a certain tri-star brand when they penned this one. It’s handsome but not particularly avant-garde, which in the long run will be better appreciated by customers who don’t want their ride to look dated after just a few years.

This third-generation Tucson is also longer, wider and taller by several inches, respectively, including the wheelbase. Leg, knee-, and headroom are better than ever. There’s more room to stretch out for both front and rear passengers, and you can seat three passengers at the back with no complaints unlike the cramped backseat of the old model. The backseat can even be adjusted for rake, making it ideal for chauffeured owners. The A/C is manually operated, which is fine and dandy for me since I don’t care much for auto climate control systems anyway, and rear passengers even get A/C vents down behind the console box.

Driving the Tucson GLS won’t get your testosterone up like you might in the sportier Mazda CX-5, but subtle details remind you of how far the Tucson has come since its forebears. The CRDi engine is remarkably smooth and silent, more European than Asian with the way it pulls the Tucson about unobtrusively but with authority. The six-speed automatic is a perfect match, harnessing all 182hp with the right gear nearly all of the time, although the abundant torque spread (402Nm @ 1,750-2,750rpm) means it can lug around in a tall gear all day anyway.

Past complaints about the previous Tucson centered on the anesthetized steering and pogo-like suspension, and both have been addressed. Steering feel and effort have been greatly improved to give higher confidence at speed while retaining a very light feel at parking lot speeds. Suspension damping has been firmed up for better stability, with the lengthened wheelbase allowing such a change without adversely affecting ride quality.

If the engineering team set the European marques such as Audi, Peugeot or Volkswagen as their benchmarks, then they’ve done pretty good. It’s only when the road turns twisty that the Tucson reminds you it’s still a mainstream SUV with humbler roots. Modest body lean in the corners will have you sliding laterally on the seats, and frequent, heavy braking induces diving and eventual brake fade. So pick a more appropriate vehicle for hill attacks.

The Tucson shines best as an all-day long distance tourer with quite generous passenger and luggage space. The front seats are wide and very comfortable if not exactly body-hugging for long stints, the window beltline is low and affords a panoramic view out, and there’s enough room in the cargo area for several suitcases. If you need more room, you can also split-fold the rear seats. Hyundai also went to town on the Tucson’s cabin materials, using better, softer, lower-gloss plastics for the dashboard after perhaps one too many complaints about the previous generation’s plasticky cabin.

While the seats are clothed in fabric, it’s the highly breathable kind that’s much more comfortable in our tropical weather than stiff, sweaty leather commonly used in vehicles of this price point. Plus points, too, for the Tucson’s remarkable chassis stiffness. On anything but very bumpy roads, it feels solid and flex-free, the suspension doing the work while the monocoque chassis filters out the vibration to almost nil.

With the Santa Fe having grown ever larger and softer, and thus appealing to an older, more laid-back crowd, the Tucson is now the go-to SUV in the Hyundai lineup for buyers who need real room for five with a gutsy yet refined powerplant. The Creta is the entry-level crossover, best advised for singles and young couples who don’t have to go “adult-ing” yet with issues like room for boxes and groceries and seating for kids and the nanny.

During my week-long stint with the Hyundai, fuel efficiency hovered at 11-12km/L, which is not bad at all considering Metro Manila’s infamous traffic congestion. About the only thing anyone might complain about is the rather primitive LCD display for the stereo. You get real, physical buttons and dials to navigate your playlist and Bluetooth phone, and this isn’t really a big deal unless you’ve grown spoiled with competitors’ touchscreen systems.

Try to remember five or seven years ago when the Hyundai Tucson was the one to get when you wanted a stylish, compact SUV without paying too much. You could get a base variant for just a little over P1 million and it was pretty good with a peppy drivetrain, decent space, and stylish lines.

Today, a Tucson rings the bell at P1,113,000 for a 2.0-liter with a manual (if you can even find a unit…), but the one to really pine for is this one, which stickers for P1,578,000. Hyundai has dropped the AWD variant from the line, realizing that nobody ever really drives a Tucson off-road anyway to warrant the use of four-wheel drive and the associated costs.

While the new model’s silhouette resembles the previous one, changes are quite substantial and easily appreciated. It looks chunkier, more substantial from outside, almost as if the designers were channeling a certain tri-star brand when they penned this one. It’s handsome but not particularly avant-garde, which in the long run will be better appreciated by customers who don’t want their ride to look dated after just a few years.

This third-generation Tucson is also longer, wider and taller by several inches, respectively, including the wheelbase. Leg, knee-, and headroom are better than ever. There’s more room to stretch out for both front and rear passengers, and you can seat three passengers at the back with no complaints unlike the cramped backseat of the old model. The backseat can even be adjusted for rake, making it ideal for chauffeured owners. The A/C is manually operated, which is fine and dandy for me since I don’t care much for auto climate control systems anyway, and rear passengers even get A/C vents down behind the console box.

Driving the Tucson GLS won’t get your testosterone up like you might in the sportier Mazda CX-5, but subtle details remind you of how far the Tucson has come since its forebears. The CRDi engine is remarkably smooth and silent, more European than Asian with the way it pulls the Tucson about unobtrusively but with authority. The six-speed automatic is a perfect match, harnessing all 182hp with the right gear nearly all of the time, although the abundant torque spread (402Nm @ 1,750-2,750rpm) means it can lug around in a tall gear all day anyway.

Past complaints about the previous Tucson centered on the anesthetized steering and pogo-like suspension, and both have been addressed. Steering feel and effort have been greatly improved to give higher confidence at speed while retaining a very light feel at parking lot speeds. Suspension damping has been firmed up for better stability, with the lengthened wheelbase allowing such a change without adversely affecting ride quality.

If the engineering team set the European marques such as Audi, Peugeot or Volkswagen as their benchmarks, then they’ve done pretty good. It’s only when the road turns twisty that the Tucson reminds you it’s still a mainstream SUV with humbler roots. Modest body lean in the corners will have you sliding laterally on the seats, and frequent, heavy braking induces diving and eventual brake fade. So pick a more appropriate vehicle for hill attacks.

The Tucson shines best as an all-day long distance tourer with quite generous passenger and luggage space. The front seats are wide and very comfortable if not exactly body-hugging for long stints, the window beltline is low and affords a panoramic view out, and there’s enough room in the cargo area for several suitcases. If you need more room, you can also split-fold the rear seats. Hyundai also went to town on the Tucson’s cabin materials, using better, softer, lower-gloss plastics for the dashboard after perhaps one too many complaints about the previous generation’s plasticky cabin.

While the seats are clothed in fabric, it’s the highly breathable kind that’s much more comfortable in our tropical weather than stiff, sweaty leather commonly used in vehicles of this price point. Plus points, too, for the Tucson’s remarkable chassis stiffness. On anything but very bumpy roads, it feels solid and flex-free, the suspension doing the work while the monocoque chassis filters out the vibration to almost nil.

You get most of the conveniences associated with vehicles of this caliber like power adjustable driver’s seat, projector headlamps, backup warning sensors, Smart Key, and a full suite of ABS, disc brakes, stability control, and six airbags. You also get three auxiliary power points; two in front, one at the back. You miss out on a fancier stereo, moonroof, and better speakers (the stock units are meh) that you might get in a competing brand’s.

The Tucson GLS isn’t the stunning, bargain basement SUV steal that it used to be anymore, but that’s alright. It’s a very mature and dignified vehicle that promises a stellar ride and solid package for the price.

The Hyundai Accent Sedan, Accent Hatch, Tucson (Gas and Diesel), Elantra, and Santa Fe lived up to their Modern Premium cred by figuring among the most fuel-efficient vehicles at the recently concluded DOE Euro 4 Fuel Efficiency Eco Run.

A total of 70 vehicles representing 22 global automotive brands participated in the run. Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, fielded six models.

In the passenger car category, the Accent Sedan 1.6 CRDi 6M/T (Dsl) topped the list, beating smaller and lighter vehicles in the A-Segment with a rating of 29.41km/L, and bested major competitors in the B-Segment despite having the highest engine displacement (1.6L vs 1.3L-1.5L engines). The Accent Hatch also performed well, notching 8thplace in the B-Segment and entering the overall top 20 list with fuel consumption of 25.64 km/L.

The Elantra 1.6 GL 6M/T ranked third in the C-Segment with a rating of 27.83km/L. Being a gasoline-fed vehicle, the Elantra surprisingly shared similar fuel efficiency results with its top two diesel rivals.

In the SUV category, the Tucson (Gas and Diesel) and the Santa Fe CRDi were among the Top 10 performers in the entire segment. The Tucson CRDi, which ranked second in the Compact SUV segment, turned out to be more fuel efficient than smaller and lighter SUVs, with a rating of 24.80km/L.

While in the mid-size SUV category, the Santa Fe CRDi ranked second with a fuel consumption rating of 22.76km/L, outperforming its peers with exceptional fuel efficiency despite having one of the most powerful engines among the SUV participants.

Said HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, “The results of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Euro 4 Fuel Economy Run only validate our commitment to responsible innovation-innovation that responds to our customer’s desire for fuel economy and is responsible to the community and to the environment in our concerted bid to reduce toxic emissions in the atmosphere. That is what being Euro 4-compliant is all about. As our ongoing “Gusto” campaign goes, we are proactively responding to what customers today need and want. I am proud to say that Hyundai engineering innovation in the Accent, Accent Hatch, All-New Elantra, All-New Tucson, and Santa Fe continues to give the market just that.”

​Hyundai unveiled the 2017 i30, a 5-door hatchback, ahead of its debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show. It comes with a refreshed exterior and interior as well as a new turbocharged gasoline engine.

The Korean automaker describes the exterior of the i30 as “confident and expressive.” Up front, it is fitted with sweptback LED headlights, LED vertical daytime running lights, a large bumper, and the brand’s ‘Cascading’ grille. The said grille design is also integrated to the 2017 i10 which will debut alongside the i30 at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

Turning at the side, the i30 has a straight character line and a sloping roofline. The rear, on the other hand, has wraparound LED taillights, a prominent bumper, a black spoiler, and a shark fin antenna.

The interior of the i30 has a straightforward design with a horizontal layout. It has a new 3-spoke steering wheel, a 5-inch LCD touchscreen with integrated rear-view camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and My Music functionality. The i30 is also available with an 8-inch navigation touchscreen. In addition, the vehicle supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which enable users to connect their devices to control music, telephone, and navigation system. Of note, the i30 offers 395L of cargo space which can come in handy for carrying grocery items or travel bags.

Safety-wise, the i30 features Driver Attention Alert, a system which keeps an eye out for sudden lane changes. It warns the driver through sound and visual cues on the instrument cluster. Aside from this, the i30 also has Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detector, among others.

Under the hood, the i30 is powered by a choice of 3 gasoline engines. The first of which is the turbocharged 1.4L inline 4-cylinder that generates 138 hp and 242 Nm of torque. There’s also a naturally aspirated 1.4L gasoline engine which puts out 98 hp and 134 Nm. The third gasoline engine comes in a form of a turbocharged 1.0L inline 3-cylinder that delivers 118 hp and 170 Nm.

Aside from the gasoline engines, the 2017 i30 can also be powered by a 1.6L diesel engine that produces 3 power outputs: 93 hp/280 Nm, 110 hp/280 Nm, and 136 hp/300 Nm. Transmission options include either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.